Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Henkell Freixenet acquires majority stake in Irish importer Cassidy Wines

Published: 02 September, 2026

Sparkling wine giant Henkell Freixenet has purchased a 60% stake in Irish importer-distributor Cassidy Wines.

Nurturing Irish wine

Published: 28 August, 2026

The EU first recognised Ireland as a winemaking country in the year 2000, but the industry is still very much in its early stages. Harpers speaks to David Dennison (pictured), founder of Viking Irish Drinks, who – hoping to nurture the budding industry – is working on setting up an Irish wine association.

Wines Unearthed rebrands as Unsigned. ahead of Wine Paris

Published: 08 January, 2026

Wines Unearthed, the platform that connects emerging wine and spirits producers to buyers and distributors, has announced a rebrand to ‘UNSIGNED.’ ahead of its attendance at February’s Wine Paris.

Bibendum-owner C&C sees revenue drop in first half of financial year

Published: 18 September, 2025

Irish drinks company C&C Group has reported its trading for the first half of the financial year to 31 August 2025. The business saw net revenues drop 4% compared to last year, in line with its expectations for the period.

New DRS launch date reconfirms glass exclusion for England and NI

Published: 20 January, 2023

The newest launch date for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England and Northern Ireland has re-confirmed that businesses will not be required to participate in a new system for glass recycling. However, confusion still abounds around the roll-out of four different national DRS schemes and how they will work in practice.

Northern Ireland retailers welcome business rates announcement

Published: 17 February, 2022

Independent retailers in Northern Ireland have cautiously welcomed the announcement that non-domestic rates are to be frozen for the next financial year and that businesses will still receive a three-month rates holiday.

The Three Drinkers unveil plans for second series

Published: 15 November, 2021

Popular Amazon Prime show 'The Three Drinkers' will return to our screens in February 2022, with a new six-part series called ‘The Three Drinkers in Ireland'.

An eye on Ireland

Published: 26 July, 2019

Looking on from the UK, James Lawrence reports on the sobering effects of alcohol legislation reform on the Emerald Isle

Prosecco driving growth in Irish wine market but Brexit remains a worry

Published: 15 February, 2019

The wine category in Ireland is “stable” but a love for prosecco is driving “strong growth”, according to the latest Wine Intelligence report on Ireland.

Health warnings on labels set for Irish alcohol bottles

Published: 04 October, 2018

Ireland is set to introduce health warning labels on alcohol as well as minimum pricing following the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill being passed by part of its Irish parliament (Dáil).

Bibendum’s Irish operations transfer to Walker & Wodehouse in C&C shake-up

Published: 03 September, 2018

Bibendum has offloaded its European operations, meaning a transfer of responsibility for the company’s business in Ireland.

Beer and pink gin help fuel rise in Diageo GB Sales

Published: 26 July, 2018

Diageo has seen its annual GB sales rise by 8% helped by its core gin and beer offering and ‘innovative’ NPD including pink gin.

UK and EU step up preparations for a "no deal" Brexit

Published: 20 July, 2018

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has voiced frustration over the plodding pace of Brexit negotiations as the EU published a paper on what businesses should do to prepare for a "no deal" or “hard Brexit” outcome.

The rise of Irish whiskey as EU whiskey

Published: 27 June, 2018

It may be unsurprising that Selfridges is launching its first Irish food and drink show this August. With a fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth Irish whiskey is now the world’s fastest growing spirit according to the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA).